New Delhi: An alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, Shabbir Ahmad Lone, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell and is currently under investigation for reportedly trying to change his appearance through cosmetic procedures in Gurugram while secretly handling terror-related activities.
According to sources, Lone who is also known as Raja and Kashmiri had undergone a hair transplant procedure at a clinic in Gurugram and spent nearly Rs 1.5 lakh on the treatment. Investigators believe the move was aimed at helping him avoid identification while operating underground networks linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Lone is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar district and was arrested near the Delhi border by the Special Cell’s NDR unit along with central agencies. Officials claim he had been managing India-focused terror operations from Bangladesh after escaping there following his release from jail.
Cosmetic procedures raise suspicion
The sources involved in the investigation said Lone was highly conscious about his appearance. Apart from the hair transplant, he had also reportedly visited a Gurugram-based dentist for cosmetic dental treatment to improve his teeth.
Investigators suspect these changes were part of a larger attempt to stay hidden while rebuilding Lashkar modules in different parts of India. Security agencies are also examining whether fake identities or altered appearances were being used to help operatives move freely.
Links with Lashkar networks
Officials said Lone had allegedly trained in Pakistan and was once in direct contact with Lashkar founder and UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. He was earlier arrested in 2005 over claims that he had entered Delhi to carry out a fidayeen attack.
After moving to Bangladesh, investigators believe he became active again and helped revive Lashkar-linked operations in Delhi and parts of South India. Recently, the Special Cell had busted one such module allegedly involved in anti-India propaganda activities in Delhi and Kolkata. Delhi Police has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cosmetic treatment angle in the case.